Who can turn the world on with her smile? Television audiences of certain generations recognize this question and immediately know the answer: Mary Richards, or perhaps Mary Tyler Moore, the actress who portrayed the charming character and unwitting feminist who entertained viewers for years during the 1970s. An American luminary such as Moore deserved a fitting place to retreat, relax, and rest, and this magnificent manor—spanning some 13,825 square feet on 7.37 secluded acres in Greenwich—was perfect. Moore and her husband purchased the original 1900 estate and embarked on a three-year renovation that maintained its original façade but little else save the timeless fieldstone, matches for which the couple scoured local quarries to accommodate their expansion. Moore worked with Manhattan-based architect Stephen Wang to create a house that incorporates architectural elements found in Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, among them circular windows and Chippendale-style roof rails.
Greenwich, Connecticut | Joseph Barbieri, Sotheby’s International Realty – Greenwich Brokerage
The setting has the feel of a fairytale forested enclave, introduced by a drive winding through shady groves and copses and alongside a stream. As the path approaches the home, the boughs open wide, revealing a sun-washed lawn and the distinguished residence at its heart. Among the many welcoming spaces on the main level are a stately living room with Venetian plaster walls, parquetry floors, and a bay window; a formal dining room with a vintage chandelier and striking dentil moldings; a handsome wood-clad library or billiards room—inspired by a similar room in Moore’s grandfather’s Virginia home—with window seats and walls of built-in bookcases; and a inviting family room that adjoins the spacious, thoughtfully equipped kitchen and opens to a breezy patio. Each of these public spaces is warmed by its own fireplace. One of Moore’s reportedly favorite places to linger was the home’s light-flooded solarium, which echoes the enveloping greenery and has walls of windows—some dazzling reclaimed panes of stained glass—affording a kaleidoscopic view of the grounds.
One of five restful bedrooms, the 2,000-square-foot primary suite comprises a bedroom with a fireplace, two impressive baths and dressing areas—one featuring a stained-glass ceiling rosette, a freestanding circular glass-walled shower, a soaking tub, and a closet with 100 linear feet of hanging space, which Moore specifically requested. For visitors, a one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and a bath is secluded above the three-car garage.
Other noteworthy spaces include an office with its own powder bath, a laundry room with a dog shower and grooming station, an expertly outfitted gym, a laundry and gift-wrapping room, a spa with a massage room, a whirlpool tub, a steam room, and a sauna. Outdoors, expansive terraces gaze across lawns and manicured landscaping toward Oakley Pond and a 65-foot swimming pool with a fireside patio.
The estate has an elusive best-of-both-worlds quality: a private, protected, lush reprieve mere moments from the shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues of Greenwich Avenue and roughly an hour from Manhattan.
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